VIZ MEDIA TEAMS WITH MADMAN TO BRING HOT MANGA TITLES TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Country’s Mix Of Western And Asian Culture Creates A Growing Demand For Diverse Titles.

Melbourne, Monday, 25 February 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its continued global expansion with a new distribution agreement with Madman Entertainment to offer a wide variety of Shueisha manga (graphic novel) series to the burgeoning market in Australia and New Zealand. Shueisha Inc., is one of Japan’s largest publishers and is a parent company of VIZ Media.

Some initial VIZ Media titles to be published will include smash hit properties like NARUTO, set to debut in March, BLEACH, scheduled to launch in April, and DEATH NOTE, which will be introduced in May. Several popular shojo series such as THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE †, FULL MOON, LOVE*COM and NANA are also set for publication this year along with action favorites that include ONE PIECE, D. GRAY MAN, BLACK CAT and CLAYMORE.

Madman is Australia’s number one distributor of manga (graphic novels), with a wide range of popular titles already available, including some of the industry’s biggest licenses. In late 2006-early 2007, Madman was a key sponsor of the Tezuka – The Marvel of Manga exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Gallery of New South Wales, and also launched a dedicated manga section on its website, www.madman.com.au.

“Madman is honored to be working with VIZ Media and their incredible range of manga brands, and thrilled at the prospect of introducing these to a wide range of readers in our territories," says Tim Anderson, Managing Director of Madman Entertainment. "Australian and New Zealand readers have developed a real thirst for manga and based on similar agreements forged in other rising markets, Madman looks forward to combining efforts with VIZ Media to offer the most comprehensive catalogue to date in these countries."
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“Madman Entertainment has become a dominant player in the emerging Australian and New Zealand manga scene and we are excited to partner with them to bring some of the hottest titles to readers there." says Hyoe Narita, Executive Vice President, VIZ Media. "Manga has become a truly global entertainment medium and agreements like this will continue to provide innovative means to develop and establish international markets offering a range of compelling content."

About MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT
THE MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP proudly showcases the best in Japanese anime, world cinema, art house film, Australian independent features and animation. Madman is Australia's leading distributor of home entertainment and an industry innovator with a sought-after interactive and DVD authoring studio; printing division; film production involvement; and a range of DVD and video labels. Madman was recently awarded exclusive DVD distribution rights to the Cartoon Network and SBS home entertainment labels. Web site: www.madman.com.au

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

Question. Will these be the standard Madman price of $15? 'Cause, I mean, a lot of Viz titles I can wander into the Melbourne CBD and get for less than $12. I mean, I've seen Bleach for $8._________________Give in to the demon inside. It will set you free..."Shun Gokuu Sattsu!!!"

So happy about this. Although it's a shame that we can't get the Viz verision of Fullmetal Alchemist . Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard somewhere that Ceres: Celestial Legend was also being released.

No, they are like 2 issues behind Viz, one of the few times they are (well according to their site they have only done up to 14).

Also, the Viz edition was only edited once, Taken from Wiki:

"So far the content of the manga released by Viz in the United States does not differ much from the original material. As of August 2007, the only edit that has been made is to a set of twelve panels from volume 8, depicting the Homunculus Greed tied to a cross-shaped stone slab in crucifixion style. In the U.S. version the stone was redesigned to become round in each panel,[53] as commented by Viz to avoid references to Christianity. This change in the manga was made with the approval of Hiromu Arakawa"

No, they are like 2 issues behind Viz, one of the few times they are (well according to their site they have only done up to 14).

I think they were ahead at one stage but I wasn't sure if they still were or not.

Dr.Jackal wrote:

Also, the Viz edition was only edited once, Taken from Wiki:

"So far the content of the manga released by Viz in the United States does not differ much from the original material. As of August 2007, the only edit that has been made is to a set of twelve panels from volume 8, depicting the Homunculus Greed tied to a cross-shaped stone slab in crucifixion style. In the U.S. version the stone was redesigned to become round in each panel,[53] as commented by Viz to avoid references to Christianity. This change in the manga was made with the approval of Hiromu Arakawa"

Yeah, I already know that but it's not to say that other edits won't be made later in the future.

If I recall weren't the CY covers also true to the original Japanese ones, whereas the US versions are different?

Either way (whether that's true or not) I like the CY covers better._________________Want a FREE TICKET? Click here!!
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